7 August 2025
A £100,000 appeal to create a dedicated haven for loved ones, away from busy wards at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital, has been launched today.
Supported by Your RWTC, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s charity, the Specialist Palliative Care Team is hoping businesses and fundraisers will support its bid to offer a dedicated space for the loved ones of patients receiving care in the last days of life at New Cross Hospital.
The Specialist Palliative Care Team offers individualised support to patients who are facing life-limiting illness, including those who are recognised to be in their last days of life. This encompasses managing any troublesome physical symptoms, such as pain and sickness, emotional support and SWAN care in the last days of life. The SWAN model of care is used throughout the hospital as a multi-disciplinary team approach to end of life and bereavement care. It stands for Signs, Words, Actions and Needs.
The team support patients and their loved ones by providing individualised, personalised care to patients and works in collaboration with SWAN champions, a dedicated group of staff, passionate about achieving high quality, end of life and bereavement care across the organisation.
Dr Hannah Jennens, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, explained a dedicated SWAN relatives’ room could be housed on C13.
She said: “The proposed space is currently occupied by three storage rooms which could be converted into a single, private space for the loved ones of those patient’s receiving SWAN care in the last days of life in hospital.
“This improvement will enhance the experience at a difficult time. The space would provide a calm and peaceful space for loved ones to take a break from the busy ward environment.”
“End-of-life care needs to be centred around dignity and compassion, and this room is a much-needed addition to the hospital but we need to raise funds to cover the cost of building work and the homely touches needed to make it a comfortable space.”
Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager, said: “Our teams work so hard to deliver high-quality end-of-life care – an important aspect of which is the support given to loved ones at such a distressing time.
“We know we have generous companies in the area, many of whom will have used our healthcare services, and hope they will support our bid to provide this dignified and comfortable space away from busy areas of the hospital.
“We will look at fundraising events to help boost the appeal and our SWAN Champions are also going to be doing their bit to get us to our target. They are fundraising for memory boxes too for relatives to have as keepsakes.”
To get involved, please contact 01902 694473.